NBA notebook: Curry expects to return in second round

[April 14, 2018]  Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry expects to make his return sometime during the second round of the playoffs, assuming the team gets that far, according to a report Friday by Yahoo Sports.

The second-seeded Warriors, who lost three of four to end the regular season, face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round beginning Saturday.

Curry, sidelined since March 23, suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his first game back from an ankle injury and is progressing on schedule in his rehab from the injury.

"I haven't had any setbacks," Curry told the San Jose Mercury News earlier this week. "So that's the positive, every day has been something good, advancing the rehab process. I'm looking forward to making more progress as we get towards the playoffs."

--The Charlotte Hornets relieved head coach Steve Clifford of his duties after a second consecutive 36-46 season.

Clifford, 56, helped revive the franchise by taking the Hornets to the playoffs in 2014 and 2016 and leaves with a 196-214 record in five seasons with the team.

Charlotte joins several teams in the hunt for a new head coach, including the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.

--A day before his team plays its first playoff game in six years, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown said star big man Joel Embiid isn't expected to be on the court for Game 1.

The third-seeded 76ers open their best-of-seven series against the Miami Heat at 8 p.m. ET Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Embiid, who averaged 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds in the regular season, is recovering from a fractured orbital bone in his left eye and has practiced on a limited basis with a dark protective mask. Embiid was injured March 28 in a collision with teammate Markelle Fultz.

--Oklahoma City swingman Corey Brewer is questionable to play when the Thunder open their first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Brewer injured his right knee during Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies. Guard Alex Abrines (concussion) also is questionable for Sunday's game.

The Thunder have gone 11-5 in the 16 games Brewer has started since joining the team at the end of February. He averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 18 games with the squad.

--Washington Wizards guard Jodie Meeks was suspended 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug program, the NBA announced.

Meeks tested positive for banned compounds ipamorelin and growth-hormone-releasing peptide-2, but Meeks issued a direct denial to ESPN and said he plans to appeal the punishment.

The suspension would mean Meeks will miss the start of the playoffs. The Wizards play the Toronto Raptors to open the postseason. Meeks, 30, is averaging 6.3 points in 14.5 minutes per game this season.

-- Oklahoma City suspended television play-by-play announcer Brian Davis for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs for an on-air comment he made during the team's regular-season finale on Wednesday.

During the Thunder's game against Memphis on Wednesday, Davis said point guard Russell Westbrook was "out of his cotton-pickin' mind" after Westbrook tallied an assist en route to averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive season.

"It is with great remorse and humility that I accept this suspension for the insensitive words I used during Wednesday's broadcast," Davis said in a statement. "While unintentional, I understand and acknowledge the gravity of the situation. I offer my sincere apology and realize that, while I committed a lapse in judgment, such mistakes come with consequences. This is an appropriate consequence for my actions."

-- Field Level Media

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